The 1995-96 season ended with history being made. Shaquille O'Neal delivered the first championship in Orlando Magic history, capturing both his first NBA title and the franchise's first championship. After years of building around the dominant center, Orlando finally reached the mountaintop.
Now the question was simple:
Could the Magic repeat?
In actual NBA history, the summer of 1996 is remembered for one of the biggest free-agent moves ever as Shaq left Orlando for Los Angeles. In the Rewritten Rings universe, however, that move never happens.
The defending champions keep their superstar, giving Orlando an opportunity to build a dynasty rather than watch one disappear before it truly began.
While the Magic looked to defend their crown, basketball fans continued waiting for the next generation of legends.
As longtime readers know, this timeline is building toward something unprecedented. LeBron James will enter the league in 2003 as expected, but Kobe Bryant enters in 2004, and Michael Jordan in 2005. Instead of defining separate eras, all three superstars will eventually share the league at the same time.
That future is still years away.
For now, the NBA's attention turns to the legendary 1996 Draft Class.
Despite Kobe Bryant not being available in this universe, the 1996 draft remains one of the deepest and most talented classes in league history.
Before the next generation arrived, several familiar faces played their final games. Four-time All-Star Kiki Vandeweghe headlines the retirement class.
He is joined by two-time Celtics champion Danny Ainge and two-time Bullets champion Jeff Malone, three players who helped define the first decade of Rewritten Rings history.
Attention now shifts to the draft lottery.
The Los Angeles Lakers entered with the best odds of securing the first overall pick. Unfortunately for Lakers fans, there was no Kobe Bryant waiting at the top of the board. To make matters worse, luck was not on their side as they fell all the way to fourth.
Instead, the Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, and Phoenix Suns landed the top three selections.
Before the draft even began, the Boston Celtics made one of the biggest moves of the off-season. Seeking to end a string of disappointing playoff exits, Boston acquired the third overall pick from Phoenix. Veteran Kevin Johnson and the valuable draft selection headed to Boston, while John Starks and Bobby Phills were sent to the desert.
When draft night arrived, several future stars found new homes.
With the first overall pick, Toronto selected Allen Iverson. Even in this alternate universe, Iverson's talent was impossible to ignore.
At number two, Miami selected Steve Nash, giving the Heat one of the greatest future playmakers in league history.
Then came Boston's selection.
With the third pick, the Celtics selected Ray Allen.
Just like that, Boston suddenly possessed one of the most exciting young foundations in basketball. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen would begin their careers together in Boston, years before they would ever become teammates in reality.
The Lakers selected Stephon Marbury fourth overall, while Shareef Abdur-Rahim went fifth to Denver. Other notable selections included Marcus Camby to Vancouver, Peja Stojaković to Utah, and Antoine Walker to Charlotte.
The draft itself was impressive, but the trades surrounding it may have been even more impactful.
Ron Harper was traded to Atlanta in exchange for the 11th pick, which Golden State used to select Ben Wallace. Brad Daugherty was dealt to Portland, while New York used one of the acquired selections to draft Randy Livingston. P.J. Brown was sent to Dallas, while Utah added Jerome Williams.
Once the draft concluded, attention shifted to free agency.
The biggest signing of the summer belonged to Seattle.
Tim Hardaway signed with the Sonics, joining an already loaded roster featuring Reggie Lewis, Joe Dumars, and Vin Baker. Seattle had spent years searching for the final piece. Hardaway appeared to be exactly that.
The move immediately pushed the Sonics into championship contention.
Boston continued its aggressive off-season by signing Dražen Petrović, while New York attempted to replace Brad Daugherty with Tom Gugliotta. Elsewhere, Charles Oakley joined his fourth team in four seasons, signing with Indiana.
Several blockbuster trades followed before opening night. Derrick Coleman was traded from Boston to Denver. Jeff Hornacek left Boston for Utah, while the Celtics acquired defensive anchor Dikembe Mutombo.
In Los Angeles, the arrival of Stephon Marbury signaled the end of an era. Magic Johnson was traded to Sacramento for Terry Cummings, bringing an end to one of the most successful Lakers careers in franchise history.
Elsewhere, Dominique Wilkins was sent to Vancouver, while Houston moved on from Ralph Sampson in favor of a younger frontcourt led by Pervis Ellison.
The movement continued throughout the season. Juwan Howard was traded twice, eventually landing in Milwaukee. Two-time champion Dell Curry joined the Clippers, while David Wesley, Rex Chapman, Aaron McKie, Walt Williams, Terrell Brandon, and Tim Legler all found new homes after the season was underway.
When the dust settled, one player once again stood above everyone else. Len Bias captured his second consecutive MVP award and the fourth of his career.
The Detroit superstar averaged 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, leading the Pistons to another elite season. While a championship continues to elude him, Bias has established himself as the defining player of this Jordanless era. Four MVP awards and three Finals appearances have made him the most accomplished individual player in Rewritten Rings history.
Meanwhile, the top rookie from the draft class wasted no time making an impact.
Allen Iverson won Rookie of the Year, averaging 27 points and 6 assists while leading Toronto to its first playoff appearance.
As the regular season concluded, the defending champion Magic finished with the NBA's best record at 61-21. Detroit followed at 60-22, while Boston and Milwaukee were right behind at 59 and 58 wins respectively.
The playoff field was now set.
In the East, Orlando earned the top seed and will face the injury-riddled eighth-seeded Bullets. While Washington still features two-time champion John Stockton, the loss of Clyde Drexler makes this a difficult matchup against the defending champions.
The second-seeded Pistons draw one of the most fascinating matchups of the opening round. League MVP Len Bias will face Rookie of the Year Allen Iverson and the seventh-seeded Raptors.
The last time the MVP faced the Rookie of the Year in the playoffs was 1993, when Shaq shocked MVP Reggie Miller and the Nets. Even more concerning for Detroit, the league MVP has not advanced beyond the first round since 1992.
The third-seeded Celtics will face Reggie Miller and the sixth-seeded Nets. Boston was upset in the first round a year ago by Stockton's Bullets. This time everyone is healthy, and expectations are much higher.
Milwaukee enters as the fourth seed after last year's surprise Conference Finals run. Their opponent will be Cleveland, but with David Robinson sidelined, the Cavaliers appear to face an uphill battle.
Out West, the Seattle SuperSonics earned the first number-one seed in franchise history after finishing 55-27. Led by Hardaway, Dumars, and Baker, they will face the eighth-seeded Suns, who surged into the playoffs after spending much of the season outside the bracket.
Houston secured the second seed and will meet the playoff debuting Vancouver Grizzlies. The question is whether Dominique Wilkins can turn back the clock and pull off a stunning upset.
The third-seeded Trail Blazers will battle the defending Western Conference champion Timberwolves. Minnesota welcomes Larry Johnson back from injury, but the absence of Alonzo Mourning leaves a massive hole against a Portland team led by Isiah Thomas and Brad Daugherty.
Finally, the fourth-seeded Clippers will meet the fifth-seeded Mavericks. Dallas continues one of the most remarkable streaks in league history, having never missed the playoffs in the fourteen seasons of Rewritten Rings history despite countless roster changes and rebuilds.
With the defending champions chasing a repeat, Len Bias chasing his first title, Allen Iverson making his playoff debut, and Seattle looking to validate its historic season, the stage was set for what promised to be one of the most memorable postseasons in NBA history.
The 1997 NBA Playoffs opened with one of the most intriguing storylines in recent memory. League MVP Len Bias and the Detroit Pistons were matched up against Rookie of the Year Allen Iverson and the expansion Toronto Raptors.
The matchup felt strangely familiar. Four years earlier, reigning MVP Reggie Miller had been upset by Rookie of the Year Shaquille O'Neal and the Orlando Magic in the first round.
That loss began a troubling trend, as every MVP since then had failed to escape the opening round. Last season, Bias became the latest victim when Reggie Miller and the Nets eliminated Detroit in five games.
Now the MVP curse faced another test.
Like Shaq's Magic in 1993, the Raptors were making their playoff debut. Like Shaq, Iverson had taken the league by storm in his rookie season. For a moment, it looked as though history might be preparing to repeat itself.
Instead, the Pistons made sure it wouldn't.
Detroit defended home court with victories in the first two games, and Toronto's hopes took a major hit when Iverson suffered an injury during Game 2.
The Raptors still fought hard in front of their home crowd. In Game 3 they clawed to within two points late in the fourth quarter, threatening to extend the series.
Every time Toronto made a run, however, Detroit responded. Dee Brown buried two clutch three-pointers, Sam Cassell added a third, and the Pistons pulled away.
Detroit completed the sweep, while Bias finished the closeout game with 22 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 assists. For the first time since 1992, the reigning MVP had survived the first round.
Next the defending champion Orlando Magic were looking to do the same. The eighth-seeded Bullets entered the playoffs believing they could recreate last year's magic.
After all, they had fallen behind 0-2 against Boston in 1996 before storming back to win three straight and pull off the upset. Led by two-time champion John Stockton, Washington had already proven it was capable of shocking a favorite.
This time there would be no comeback the Magic traveled to Washington and delivered a convincing 19-point victory to complete the sweep. Glenn Rice led the closeout effort with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, as Shaq and the defending champions advanced with little resistance.
The most competitive series in the Eastern Conference belonged to the Celtics and Nets. Boston entered the postseason under enormous pressure after last year's first-round collapse against the Bullets. Their reward was a matchup with former MVP Reggie Miller and the battle-tested Nets, a franchise that had reached three Conference Finals since 1992.
Game 1 immediately delivered drama. Late in the contest, Kendall Gill appeared to have the Nets in control after scoring a basket and converting a free throw to give New Jersey a two-point lead.
Then veteran Kevin Johnson came through with perhaps the biggest shot of Boston's season, knocking down a three-pointer to steal a one-point victory. The Nets answered by splitting the first two games in Boston, and suddenly Celtics fans feared another disappointing postseason exit.
Instead, Boston played its best basketball of the year. The Celtics dominated both games in New Jersey, winning by double digits each time to take the series 3-1.
Chris Webber was unstoppable in the closeout game, finishing with 30 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks as Boston finally exorcised some of the demons from the previous postseason.
The biggest surprise in the East came in Milwaukee. The Bucks entered the playoffs fresh off a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals and appeared to have drawn a favorable matchup against a Cleveland team missing franchise center David Robinson. Most observers expected Milwaukee to advance comfortably.
Instead, the Cavaliers stunned everyone by stealing both games on the road. Suddenly the pressure shifted entirely onto the Bucks. Milwaukee responded with a Game 3 victory, but Game 4 became the defining moment of the series. With the game hanging in the balance, Kenny Anderson took over, drilling two huge three-pointers in the closing minutes and leading Cleveland to a shocking upset.
Anderson finished with 42 points and 6 assists, the fourth-highest playoff scoring performance in Cavaliers history. Without Robinson playing a single minute, Cleveland had somehow eliminated one of the East's favorites.
Out West, the defending conference champion Minnesota Timberwolves found themselves trying to survive without injured star Alonzo Mourning. Portland wasted little time taking advantage.
The Trail Blazers won the first two games at home before Minnesota responded in Game 3. Any hopes of a comeback disappeared in Game 4 as Brad Daugherty dominated with 28 points and 15 rebounds, helping Portland eliminate the defending Western Conference champions in just four games.
The second-seeded Rockets faced playoff newcomer Vancouver, and for one night it appeared the Grizzlies might be preparing their own Cinderella story.
Vancouver stunned Houston in Game 1, earning the franchise's first playoff victory thanks to timely baskets from Gheorghe Mureșan. The celebration didn't last long.
Houston answered by winning the next two games, and Vancouver's hopes took another major hit when star guard Kenny Smith went down with an injury in Game 3.
Already without Rasheed Wallace, the Grizzlies simply ran out of healthy bodies. The Rockets closed out the series behind Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf's 23 points and 10 assists in the deciding game 4.
Then came the series that everyone would be talking about.
The Seattle SuperSonics entered the postseason with the first number-one seed in franchise history. After years of falling short, Seattle believed the addition of Tim Hardaway had finally given them a championship-caliber roster. Their opening matchup against the eighth-seeded Suns looked favorable on paper.
At first, it seemed exactly that way. Seattle cruised to a convincing Game 1 victory. Phoenix answered by stealing Game 2, then returned home and won Game 3. Suddenly the Sonics were staring at elimination.
The parallels to another Seattle team became impossible to ignore.
In real NBA history, the first number-one seed to lose to an eighth seed was the 1994 Seattle SuperSonics. That season also marked the first time the Sonics had ever earned a number-one seed. In the Rewritten Rings universe, 1997 was Seattle's first number-one seed.
Two different timelines.
The same franchise.
The same nightmare.
Game 4 came down to the final minutes. Seattle held a slim lead and appeared ready to force a deciding Game 5. Then everything unraveled. Tim Hardaway missed five consecutive shots down the stretch, opening the door for Phoenix.
The Suns capitalized on every opportunity and completed one of the most shocking upsets in playoff history. John Starks finished with 21 points, 9 assists, and 3 steals, as Phoenix eliminated the top-seeded Sonics in four games.
The final series of the opening round provided the only Game 5. The Clippers won the first two games against Dallas before the Mavericks responded with two victories of their own to even the series.
Unlike many of the other matchups, there would be no last-second heroics in the deciding game. Los Angeles finished strong winning by 13 points. Dennis Scott scored 31 points to send the Clippers into the second round for the 6th straight year.
As the first round came to a close, the playoff picture looked dramatically different than it had just two weeks earlier. The MVP curse was finally over. The defending champion Magic remained on course for a repeat.
Cleveland had pulled off a stunning upset without David Robinson. And for the second time across two different realities, a number-one seeded Seattle team had watched its championship dreams disappear against an eighth seed.
The road to the Finals had only become more unpredictable.
With the field reduced to eight teams, the Conference Semifinals featured a mix of familiar rivals, championship contenders, and one Cinderella story that simply refused to end.
The marquee matchup in the East was a rivalry that stretched all the way back to the beginning of the Rewritten Rings universe. Since the inaugural 1984 season, the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons had been on a collision course whenever championships were at stake.
It began when Larry Bird's Celtics defeated Isiah Thomas' Pistons in the Conference Finals. Since then, the franchises had met three more times, with Len Bias' Pistons winning the previous two encounters.
In fact, the last time these teams met in the Conference Semifinals, Detroit swept a Boston team led by Bird and Shawn Kemp.
History appeared ready to repeat itself.
The Pistons dominated the first two games at home, then stole a close victory in Boston to seize a commanding 3-0 series lead. Facing elimination, the Celtics finally responded behind Drazen Petrovic and earned a Game 4 victory to avoid the sweep.
Any thoughts of a comeback quickly disappeared once the series returned to Detroit. The Pistons delivered another convincing blowout, ending Boston's season and continuing their dominance over one of their oldest rivals.
Len Bias finished the closeout game with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, advancing to his fifth Conference Finals with Detroit and sixth overall. More importantly, he improved to 3-0 against the Celtics in postseason series, adding another chapter to one of the defining rivalries of this alternate NBA timeline.
Out West, another familiar name was chasing unfinished business.
Isiah Thomas and the Portland Trail Blazers entered the semifinals looking for their second Conference Finals appearance in four seasons. Standing in their way were the second-seeded Houston Rockets, a veteran team with championship aspirations of their own.
Portland immediately stunned Houston by stealing the first two games on the road. The Rockets managed to respond in Game 3, but they could only split in Portland. Back in Houston for Game 5, the Rockets kept their season alive with a hard-fought victory, forcing the series back again to Portland.
The Blazers dominated Game 6, winning by double digits and eliminating Houston. Brad Daugherty delivered one of the best performances of the postseason with 31 points and 15 rebounds, sending Portland to the Conference Finals.
For Daugherty, it marked only the second Conference Finals appearance of his career. For Thomas, it was his fourth trip to the final four. The question now was whether one of the greatest point guards in league history could finally make an NBA Finals in this universe.
The other Western Conference matchup featured perhaps the most improbable team remaining in the playoffs.
The eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns had already shocked the basketball world by eliminating the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics. Now they faced another enormous challenge in the two-time champion Los Angeles Clippers.
Most observers expected the Cinderella run to end quickly.
The Suns opened the series by stealing Game 1 in Los Angeles before the Clippers responded with victories in Games 2 and 3 to regain control. Just when it looked as though experience would prevail, Phoenix answered once again. The Suns won Game 4 to even the series and then stunned Los Angeles with another upset victory in Game 5 on the road.
As damaging as the loss was, the Clippers suffered an even bigger setback.
Hakeem Olajuwon was injured during Game 5, leaving Los Angeles without its superstar center heading into an elimination game. Brian Grant was forced into the starting lineup for Game 6, and the Suns wasted no time taking advantage.
Phoenix completed the upset and advanced to its first Conference Finals appearance in Rewritten Rings history. They also accomplished something no other eighth seed had ever done.
While this timeline had already seen four previous eighth seeds survive the first round, the Suns became the first number-eight seed to reach a Conference Final.
Bison Dele led the closeout victory with 23 points and 13 rebounds, capping one of the most remarkable underdog runs the league had ever seen.
The final series featured the defending champion Orlando Magic against the Cinderella Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland had already shocked Milwaukee in the first round despite playing without injured superstar David Robinson. Most expected Orlando to make quick work of the Cavaliers, especially considering the Magic had eliminated a healthier Cleveland team the previous season.
The first two games seemed to confirm that prediction as Orlando cruised to victories at home.
Then the Cavaliers refused to go away.
Back in Cleveland, the Cavs won both home games to even the series and suddenly put pressure on the defending champions. Orlando responded with a Game 5 victory, but Cleveland answered once again in Game 6.
With the game hanging in the balance, John Williams, David Wesley, and Kenny Anderson delivered a series of clutch baskets to force the first Game 7 of the postseason.
For a moment, another massive upset seemed possible.
The Cavaliers kept the deciding game close well into the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, their magical run finally ran out of steam. Cleveland failed to score over the final two and a half minutes, allowing Orlando to pull away for an 11-point victory.
Grant Hill scored 21 points in the deciding game, helping the defending champions survive their toughest test of the postseason.
As the Conference Semifinals came to a close, the stage was set for a fascinating final four. Len Bias was back in the Conference Finals. Shaq and the defending champion Magic were still alive. Isiah Thomas was once again one step away from his first Finals. And the eighth-seeded Suns had already made history.
The road to the championship was now down to four teams, and every one of them had a story worth telling.
With the NBA Finals just one series away, four teams remained. The defending champion Orlando Magic were seeking a return trip to the Finals.
The Detroit Pistons were trying to finally get Len Bias over the hump. Out West, the Portland Trail Blazers were chasing history of their own, while the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns looked to continue one of the most improbable playoff runs in history.
The Eastern Conference Finals featured perhaps the biggest star power matchup of the postseason. Defending champion Shaquille O'Neal and the Orlando Magic faced reigning MVP Len Bias and the Detroit Pistons.
For Detroit, the stakes were enormous. Since 1991, the Pistons had reached three NBA Finals, but Bias still had nothing to show for his dominance except individual accolades. Four MVP awards. Three Finals appearances. No championships.
Game 1 suggested this year might finally be different.
The series opener went down to the wire before Bias punctuated the victory with a breakaway dunk, helping Detroit steal home-court advantage in Orlando. Suddenly, the Pistons were three wins away from another Finals appearance.
Game 2 was another tightly contested battle, but this time Orlando made the key plays down the stretch. First Grant Hill knocked down a critical basket. Then Shaq added another. The Magic escaped with the win and evened the series before heading to Detroit.
The Pistons suffered a major blow when Dino Radja was injured in Game 2, forcing Detroit to adjust its rotation. The defending champions took full advantage, blowing out the Pistons in Game 3 before winning Game 4 by seven points to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Back in Orlando for Game 5, the Magic delivered their most complete performance of the series. The game was never truly competitive as Orlando completed the gentleman's sweep, winning four consecutive games after dropping the opener.
Grant Hill led the closeout effort with 30 points, while Shaq and the defending champions punched their ticket back to the NBA Finals.
For Orlando, the dream of repeating remained very much alive.
For Detroit, it was another heartbreaking ending. Bias had once again produced an MVP season, but his playoff résumé remained unchanged. Four MVP awards. Three Finals appearances. Zero championships. Despite becoming the defining player of the Jordanless era, the one accomplishment that mattered most continued to elude him.
Out West, history was being written from a very different angle.
The eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns had already accomplished something no other eighth seed had managed in history: reach the Conference Finals. Now they were trying to become the first number-eight seed to ever advance to the NBA Finals.
Standing in their way were the Portland Trail Blazers.
For Portland, the opportunity felt decades in the making. The franchise had not reached the Finals since 1977 when Bill Walton led them to their only championship. More importantly, Isiah Thomas was chasing a legacy-changing breakthrough.
In real life, Thomas reached three NBA Finals and won two championships with Detroit. In the Rewritten Rings universe, however, his story had been far different. Despite entering his sixteenth season, he had never reached the Finals.
Could this finally be the year?
Portland struck first, winning Game 1 at home. The Suns appeared ready to answer in Game 2 and held a late lead before the Blazers mounted a furious comeback. Nick Anderson buried two three-pointers and scored eight points in the closing moments, helping Portland erase the deficit.
The game came down to one final possession.
The Suns put the ball in the hands of John Starks, and the veteran delivered, attacking the basket and scoring the game-winner to steal home-court advantage.
Back in Phoenix, the magic continued.
The Suns won Game 3 and suddenly found themselves in control of the series. Once again, the Cinderella story appeared ready to shock the basketball world.
The Blazers won Game 4 in Phoenix and followed it up with another victory in Game 5 at home. Isiah Thomas was now just one win away from the Finals.
Game 6 would become the defining moment of Phoenix's incredible run.
Trailing by four points with under three minutes remaining, the Suns turned to the players who had arrived in the Kevin Johnson trade. Earlier that offseason, Phoenix had sent Johnson and the third overall pick—used by Boston to select Ray Allen—to the Celtics in exchange for John Starks and Bobby Phills.
Now those two veterans were repaying the investment.
First, Phills found an open Bison Dele for a three-pointer. Moments later, after Brad Daugherty extended Portland's lead, Starks answered with a game-tying three of his own. Dele then gave Phoenix the lead before Derek McKey responded with a clutch three for Portland.
The drama wasn't over.
Starks was fouled on a three-point attempt and calmly made two of three free throws to put Phoenix back in front. Then, with just 14 seconds remaining, Bobby Phills buried a corner three, sending the Suns crowd into a frenzy and forcing a decisive Game 7.
Back in Portland, the Blazers left no doubt. They dominated from the opening tip and cruised to a 28-point victory. Derek McKey finished with 23 points and 6 rebounds, while Portland's veteran core finally achieved what had eluded them for years.
After sixteen seasons, Isiah Thomas was finally going to the NBA Finals.
Now one final challenge remained.
The defending champion Orlando Magic stood between Portland and history. The Blazers were trying to win their first championship since 1977. Something they still haven't done in the real world.
Standing in their way was a dynasty in the making.
The 1997 NBA Finals had finally arrived.
On one side stood the defending champion Orlando Magic, owners of the league's best record and just four wins away from repeating. Led by Shaquille O'Neal, Grant Hill, Shawn Kemp, and Glenn Rice, Orlando had spent the entire season proving their championship run was no fluke.
Standing across from them was a team writing a very different story.
At 36 years old, Isiah Thomas was making the first NBA Finals appearance of his career in this timeline. In real life, Thomas reached three Finals and won two championships with Detroit.
In this universe, after sixteen seasons filled with heartbreak, he had finally broken through. Joining him were two players also chasing their first taste of the Finals—Derek McKey, who had spent his entire career in Portland, and Brad Daugherty, who had been acquired by the Blazers on draft night. As a franchise, Portland was making its first Finals appearance since Bill Walton led them to the championship in 1977.
Game 1 showed just how difficult the challenge would be. Orlando dominated from the opening tip and rolled to a convincing victory. The Blazers responded with a much stronger effort in Game 2, especially after Shawn Kemp left the game with an injury.
Portland stayed within striking distance throughout, and a spectacular no-look pass from Isiah to Stacey King cut the deficit to three with just two minutes remaining.
But every time the Blazers threatened, Orlando answered. Armen Gilliam, filling in for Kemp, scored a key basket before Grant Hill delivered another, allowing the Magic to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Game 3 became the turning point of the Finals.
The Magic led by seven with just over two minutes to play before Portland mounted one final charge. Isiah scored, Nick Anderson added back-to-back baskets, and suddenly the Blazers trailed by only one.
After Orlando came up empty on its next possession, Portland called timeout with 11 seconds remaining and one chance to win it. The play worked perfectly as Anderson found Derek McKey wide open for three, but the shot missed its mark. Orlando escaped with the victory and a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 lead.
Game 4 followed a familiar script. Once again the Blazers hung around into the closing minutes. McKey, looking to redeem his missed opportunity from Game 3, knocked down a jumper to trim the deficit to four.
Then Shaq took over.
The Big Diesel scored six straight points, slamming the door on Portland's comeback hopes and sealing an eight-point victory. The sweep was complete, though the final three games were far more competitive than the 4-0 series score would suggest.
Shaquille O'Neal finished the clinching game with 26 points and 16 rebounds, earning his second consecutive Finals MVP after averaging 27 points and 16 rebounds for the series.
The Orlando Magic were back-to-back NBA champions.
In real NBA history, Shaq left Orlando after the 1996 season to build a dynasty alongside Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. In the Rewritten Rings universe, he stayed in the Magic Kingdom, and that decision has completely reshaped NBA history.
Alongside Grant Hill and Shawn Kemp—two superstars who never won championships in reality—Shaq has now delivered two titles to Orlando, with the possibility of even more still ahead.
For Portland, the season still marked an incredible achievement. Isiah Thomas had finally reached the Finals, while Brad Daugherty accomplished something he never did in real life by playing on basketball's biggest stage. Unfortunately, neither could overcome the defending champions. At 36 years old, there is no guarantee Thomas will receive another opportunity.
The bigger question now belongs to Orlando.
Four other franchises in the fourteen-year history of Rewritten Rings have captured back-to-back championships, but none have ever completed a three-peat. The closest came when the 1986 Celtics reached the Finals after winning two straight, only to fall short.
Can Shaq and the Magic accomplish what no team in this universe ever has?
The journey to the 1997-98 season begins next...
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